Any advice for a short term low calorie diet?

Just to jump start my weight loss I want to go on a low calorie diet: between 1000 and 1200 calories. Im going to alternate having a fruit/veggie smoothie between breakfast one day and lunch the other (homemade with fresh fruits, veggies) and also I'm going to include whole grains such as brown rice and whole grain breads. As far as meats go mainly fish, shrimp and chicken breast and once or twice a week pork. I also plan on walking a few times a week for atleast an hour and doing about 30 mins of otjer exercise (crunches sit ups, light weight lifting) 4 times a week. I only plan on doing this lower calorie diet for 2-3 weeks and then gradually working my way back to a normal calorie diet.

Does anyone have any suggestions on vitamin supplements to also include??
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Replies

  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Why do you need a jumpstart? Are you a motorcycle?
  • SnuggleSmacks
    SnuggleSmacks Posts: 3,731 Member
    Cutting calories beyond a normal deficit for weightloss is usually a bad idea...it can lead to binging because you're going to be REALLY HANGRY. Generally, you should eat the way you intend to eat for the rest of your life, but just cut back portions to the point that you maintain a healthy deficit.
  • Alatariel75
    Alatariel75 Posts: 18,232 Member
    Jump starts are a silly fad invented by people trying to sell things. Just start doing it the way you intend to continue doing it.
  • kgeyser
    kgeyser Posts: 22,505 Member
    Advice: Don't do it. Your body doesn't need a jumpstart, and when you start adding calories back in, you'll either see no movement on the scale or you'll show a gain, both of which are discouraging. Plus you'll be a moody, cranky mess going from a surplus or maintenance to such a drastic deficit.

    Just have a healthy deficit, eat back a portion of your exercise calories, get sleep, drink water, make sure you're hitting your macros and micros, and be happy. Weight loss doesn't have to be agony.
  • AnabolicKyle
    AnabolicKyle Posts: 489 Member
    ive done it, high protein & lots of veggies!
  • When I first started I did an unintentional "jump start." Lost about 5 lbs quickly. Binged over the weekend. Gained it all back. Lost it all slowly. Look at my graph. P. Moral of the story: I could have done without the jump start and so should you!
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Just to jump start my weight loss I want to go on a low calorie diet: between 1000 and 1200 calories. Im going to alternate having a fruit/veggie smoothie between breakfast one day and lunch the other (homemade with fresh fruits, veggies) and also I'm going to include whole grains such as brown rice and whole grain breads. As far as meats go mainly fish, shrimp and chicken breast and once or twice a week pork. I also plan on walking a few times a week for atleast an hour and doing about 30 mins of otjer exercise (crunches sit ups, light weight lifting) 4 times a week. I only plan on doing this lower calorie diet for 2-3 weeks and then gradually working my way back to a normal calorie diet.

    Does anyone have any suggestions on vitamin supplements to also include??
    No, no, noooooo. No offense intended, but your plan is ridiculous, and there is no need to jump start anything.

    Go into MFP, enter your data, and let MFP set a calorie goal for you, eat at a moderate deficit and you will lose weight. You have only 25 pounds to lose so pleas choose to lose 1 pound a week.

    Your avatar with your little one is adorable! :smile:
  • mrzmami88
    mrzmami88 Posts: 25 Member
    Eeeeerk I guess I never really thought of it that way! I did this before but in a very unhealthy way, lost 10lbs in like 3 weeks, but I was hardly eating and was exercising 1-2 hours a day 5 days a week. I figured if I kept my calorie intake between 1000-1200 a day (probably closer to 1200 than not) but did it smarter by making sure im eating right and balanced it would b ok.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    Eeeeerk I guess I never really thought of it that way! I did this before but in a very unhealthy way, lost 10lbs in like 3 weeks, but I was hardly eating and was exercising 1-2 hours a day 5 days a week. I figured if I kept my calorie intake between 1000-1200 a day (probably closer to 1200 than not) but did it smarter by making sure im eating right and balanced it would b ok.
    1000 -1200 calorie is too few calories. You're a busy mom with an infant, and you're opting to exercise. You don't have that much to lose either. Slow and easy does it, and before you know it you will hit your goal.
  • It's not that it can't be done. It's just not needed and will probably result in a waste of time. Your plan seems like you'd be basically working your body from a 0 or negative calorie amount. That's just unhealthy. Your exercises and your day-to-day activities will eat those 1200 calories up so fast, especially if you have to take care of a little one! If you don't have a lot of nutrition background, you are probably better off letting MFP set your amount and make sure you are always eating the amount it sets as your NET (not total).
  • mrzmami88
    mrzmami88 Posts: 25 Member
    And I honestly dont plan to do it strictly 1000 a day, most days will definitely be in the 1200 range. MFP put me at a 1200 calorie intake to meet my goal, so I thought to speed it up a little, some days id lessen my intake.
  • Just make sure it's 1200 NET not total. 1200 is a standard BMR set for women. 1200 is needed by your body to make your lungs breath in oxygen, your heart beat, etc. So if you burn 400 calories at a workout, then you need to eat 1600 calories that day.

    Some people whose daily goal is above their BMR don't have to eat back exercise calories. People who are at their BMR do.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    And I honestly dont plan to do it strictly 1000 a day, most days will definitely be in the 1200 range. MFP put me at a 1200 calorie intake to meet my goal, so I thought to speed it up a little, some days id lessen my intake.
    Okay, you gotta slow down here. :wink: You entered data into MFP that you wanted to lose 2 pounds a week, and the default is 1200 for practically anybody. That's too aggressive for someone who wants to lose only 25 pounds because in the long run it will not be sustainable, just like your 1000-1200 calories will not be sustainable.

    Faster is not better when losing weight, unless you doctor has advised you otherwise for health issues.
  • WLG1974
    WLG1974 Posts: 90
    All day soup. There was a post on it a long time ago, and it had a recipe.

    I do this once in a while. It helps so I know what you mean
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    All day soup. There was a post on it a long time ago, and it had a recipe.

    I do this once in a while. It helps so I know what you mean
    No.
  • mrzmami88
    mrzmami88 Posts: 25 Member
    I hear u! I am pretty active without including exercise weekends!

    Also my weakness is weekends and wine! Lol im really only counting m-f f my actual "diet days" bc most weekends i eat what I want (I dont binge by any means) but pizza,r burgers and dogs, bbq ribs. But i do my best to include salads in my meals and use portion control. And I drink beer and wine which is my down fall! On a crazyweekend I can down a gallon wine with my friends and a case of beer in a night :( lol


    Edit: using a phone for this sucks btw
  • WLG1974
    WLG1974 Posts: 90
    All day soup. There was a post on it a long time ago, and it had a recipe.

    I do this once in a while. It helps so I know what you mean
    No.

    YES
  • All day soup. There was a post on it a long time ago, and it had a recipe.

    I do this once in a while. It helps so I know what you mean
    No.

    YES

    No, go home WLG1974. You're drunk. :drinker:
  • WLG1974
    WLG1974 Posts: 90
    All day soup. There was a post on it a long time ago, and it had a recipe.

    I do this once in a while. It helps so I know what you mean
    No.

    YES

    No, go home WLG1974. You're drunk. :drinker:

    Grow up.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    YES

    No, there is no magic in that soup. It's a low calorie soup which, even if you eat plenty of it throughout the day, will never be enough to reach sustainable calorie needs.

    It's a calorie deficit that will make a person lose weight, not the "all day soup," or "anytime soup," as it is also called. It is meant to be a filler in between whatever else a person eats throughout the day.

    Moderate calorie deficit does it every time.
  • All day soup. There was a post on it a long time ago, and it had a recipe.

    I do this once in a while. It helps so I know what you mean
    No.

    YES

    No, go home WLG1974. You're drunk. :drinker:

    Grow up.

    You got me.
  • hearthwood
    hearthwood Posts: 794 Member
    We all require a minimum of 1200 calories a day, otherwise our bodies go into starvation mode, thereby slowing our metabolic rate, and what calories you do eat will be stored as fat, making it all the harder to lose. And that happens regardless of what type of food you're eating.

    MFP has set you up according to the information you put in it, and it's based on losing 1 to 2 pounds a week in order to help you keep it off. So don't mess with Mother Nature, there's always consequences to it, and it's usually not good.

    Remember a calorie is a calorie regardless if it comes from carrots or cookies, protein, fat or carbs. It's simply calories in versus calories out. Follow the recommendation of MFP, be faithful about entering everything and you'll get there.
  • mrzmami88
    mrzmami88 Posts: 25 Member
    I don't want to deprive myself of any nutrients or anything.

    It's just been a very long hard road for me as far as my weight goes. I've dieted (healthily) and gone to gyms and work out and the ONLY time ive lost a significant amount of weight was when I did this stupid no carb diet but my body wasn't toning bc of the things i was lacking in my diet.

    I loved how i looked at 125lbs and now at 148lbs, even though it's not terrible, I'm not used to it. Plus im a very impatient person! and get discouraged easily.

    and this extra weight is really putting a toll on my small frame. I can feel it in my hips and back and my feet bc these areas ache and hurt a lot. (and ive had mri's and xrays and other tests done to rule out other possible reasons for these areas to constantly ache n pain) I just want the extra weight gone so I can, hopefully, get back to not only looking normal but FEELING normal again!

    i also have plantar fasciitis so that makes exercising difficult. so although I have every intention of regularly running/walking and exercising on a weekly basis, that makes it difficult.
  • bella_vista
    bella_vista Posts: 6 Member
    I think your going to have a hard time with the food choices. It's high carb, high sugar. Even dropping your calorie doesn't make too much sense, but then again I don't know your appropriate caloric targets for weight loss. You'd do better with consistency, then yo-yoing. That kind of stuff can bite you in the long run. Regardless, you might want to watch the sugar, carbs and proteins. Those ratios are really important and will maintain your energy and muscle.
  • mrzmami88
    mrzmami88 Posts: 25 Member
    I think my food choices are healthy. lean meats and fish. leafy greens and fruit. whole grain/wheat rice and bread. I'l be sure to balance by meals out so I dont go over what MFP has mapped out for me on my daily intake for each area (sugar, carb, protein)
  • hookilau
    hookilau Posts: 3,134 Member
    All day soup. There was a post on it a long time ago, and it had a recipe.

    I do this once in a while. It helps so I know what you mean
    No.

    YES

    No, go home WLG1974. You're drunk. :drinker:

    Grow up.

    You got me.

    :laugh:
    one liners kill me
  • hearthwood
    hearthwood Posts: 794 Member
    I don't want to deprive myself of any nutrients or anything.

    It's just been a very long hard road for me as far as my weight goes. I've dieted (healthily) and gone to gyms and work out and the ONLY time ive lost a significant amount of weight was when I did this stupid no carb diet but my body wasn't toning bc of the things i was lacking in my diet.

    I loved how i looked at 125lbs and now at 148lbs, even though it's not terrible, I'm not used to it. Plus im a very impatient person! and get discouraged easily.

    and this extra weight is really putting a toll on my small frame. I can feel it in my hips and back and my feet bc these areas ache and hurt a lot. (and ive had mri's and xrays and other tests done to rule out other possible reasons for these areas to constantly ache n pain) I just want the extra weight gone so I can, hopefully, get back to not only looking normal but FEELING normal again!

    i also have plantar fasciitis so that makes exercising difficult. so although I have every intention of regularly running/walking and exercising on a weekly basis, that makes it difficult.

    You've just described many people on this board. I let 25 pounds sneak up on me over several years, and finally got serious about taking it off, when my doctor threw a cold bucket of water over my head. Since you don't have a lot to lose, realistically you won't be able to lose more than 1 maybe 1-1/2 pounds a week.

    Remember a pound is 3500 calories, and at your current weight at 148 that's going to be difficult to cut that many calories out of your food intake, and or to burn it off thru exercise, especially if you have medical issues with your feet. So be realistic, maybe 1/2 pound a week spells success for you. It has me. Right now I am at 146.5, just 6.5 pounds from goal weight and it's taken me quite a while to get here. I started out 2 years ago, lost about 18 pounds in the first 9 month, got stuck in a plateau that seemed to last over a year. Joined MFP and finally the scale started moving in the right direction. And believe me right now I am happy with a 1/4 pound loss in a week.

    Just stick with MFP and you'll get there.
  • SLLRunner
    SLLRunner Posts: 12,942 Member
    We all require a minimum of 1200 calories a day, otherwise our bodies go into starvation mode, thereby slowing our metabolic rate, and what calories you do eat will be stored as fat, making it all the harder to lose. And that happens regardless of what type of food you're eating.
    Starvation mode is myth when it comes to everyday dieter. Starvation mode means you have lost a certain percentage of body fat, muscle, and you have lost enough weight to be emaciated.
  • mrzmami88
    mrzmami88 Posts: 25 Member
    I don't want to deprive myself of any nutrients or anything.

    It's just been a very long hard road for me as far as my weight goes. I've dieted (healthily) and gone to gyms and work out and the ONLY time ive lost a significant amount of weight was when I did this stupid no carb diet but my body wasn't toning bc of the things i was lacking in my diet.

    I loved how i looked at 125lbs and now at 148lbs, even though it's not terrible, I'm not used to it. Plus im a very impatient person! and get discouraged easily.

    and this extra weight is really putting a toll on my small frame. I can feel it in my hips and back and my feet bc these areas ache and hurt a lot. (and ive had mri's and xrays and other tests done to rule out other possible reasons for these areas to constantly ache n pain) I just want the extra weight gone so I can, hopefully, get back to not only looking normal but FEELING normal again!

    i also have plantar fasciitis so that makes exercising difficult. so although I have every intention of regularly running/walking and exercising on a weekly basis, that makes it difficult.

    You've just described many people on this board. I let 25 pounds sneak up on me over several years, and finally got serious about taking it off, when my doctor threw a cold bucket of water over my head. Since you don't have a lot to lose, realistically you won't be able to lose more than 1 maybe 1-1/2 pounds a week.

    Remember a pound is 3500 calories, and at your current weight at 148 that's going to be difficult to cut that many calories out of your food intake, and or to burn it off thru exercise, especially if you have medical issues with your feet. So be realistic, maybe 1/2 pound a week spells success for you. It has me. Right now I am at 146.5, just 6.5 pounds from goal weight and it's taken me quite a while to get here. I started out 2 years ago, lost about 18 pounds in the first 9 month, got stuck in a plateau that seemed to last over a year. Joined MFP and finally the scale started moving in the right direction. And believe me right now I am happy with a 1/4 pound loss in a week.

    Just stick with MFP and you'll get there.


    Thanks! I'm going to stick with MFP. I joined a while back, but all the logging is just so time consuming, but I have to do something to track my progress and make sure I stay on track!

    Congrats on almost meeting your goal! U will be there soon!
  • bella_vista
    bella_vista Posts: 6 Member
    The only way you can survive the weekend is have a plan and stay active. We are good through the week because of the structure. You can make your decisions before you go out, and stick to your plan, and you can make it through the weekend.